Same track, same broadcast, and the session player is paid a fraction of what the named artist gets.

Consider a debut single. The artist booked a session guitarist who played the lead riff, the first thing you hear on the track.

Six months later the single is getting heavy rotation on Radio 1. PPL is collecting neighbouring rights from the station, money that belongs to performers on the recording.

The named artist receives performer income as the featured artist. The session guitarist receives a fraction of that.

The difference isn't a mistake. It is written into how PPL works, and an adviser who understands it can change the outcome before the next session.